NATO Summit: Biden and his allies ask China to side with peace in Ukraine

The president of United States, Joe Bidenand several of his allies in the NATO urged this Thursday to China to “call for a peaceful end to the conflict” in Ukraine during the Alliance summit on the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory.

This was indicated by a senior US official, who requested anonymity, in statements to journalists after the speech of Biden at the extraordinary summit of leaders of the NATOin which the president celebrated the measures to “strengthen” the eastern flank of the Alliance.

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In his speech, which was closed to the press, Biden sent “a very powerful message of support for NATO and reaffirmed its commitment to article 5″ of the organization, which would force the US to respond if there is an attack against any member of the Alliance, the source explained.

The president welcomed the “expected increases in defense spending” by several allies and the commitments to reinforce the east of the Alliance with four new battalions in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

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Several of the leaders who spoke at the session highlighted “that China needs to fulfill its responsibility” as a member of the international community and should not “support Russia in his aggression against Ukraine”, but yes “to ask for a peaceful end to the conflict” in Ukraine, according to the official.

“There was a clear sense that we are at a significant historical moment,” said the source, who was in the room during Mr. Biden and described the atmosphere as “sober, firm and incredible unity.”

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Beijing’s reluctance to condemn the Russian invasion and fears that it may provide support to Moscow have become a notable concern for Biden, who wants to reinforce unity on the matter with his allies ahead of the summit between China and the EU scheduled for April 1.

The aforementioned official also briefly described the speech given by videoconference by the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskywhich he said spoke “very eloquently” and called for “increased security assistance from the West” to his country.

“However, there was no request for a no-fly zone, nor for (that Ukraine becomes) a member of the NATO”specified the US source, who spoke at a telephone press conference.

Before participating in the summit, Biden met briefly with the secretary general of the NATOJens Stoltenberg, to address “efforts to deter” Russia from “any aggression” against Alliance member states, according to a White House statement.

The president also participates this Thursday in two other summits, of the G7 and the European Union (EU), before flying to Poland this Friday, the last stop on his European tour.

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Source: Elcomercio

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